Overview
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General Information
What and where is the Garden Route
The Garden Route is a 300 kilometer stretch of coastal road along the southern coast of South Africa. It runs through the south west tip of South Africa, which is said to be the most beautiful region in the country. Therefore, it is also one of the country’s most popular travel destinations. This route officially runs between Mossel Bay and Storms River. But as there are so many beautiful places in this region, the whole road between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth is often referred to as the Garden Route. As we can only agree that this entire route is full of beautiful places, we have also included the more extensive version of the Garden Route in this blog post.
The name Garden Route comes from the beautiful green and lush region that it runs through, with a diverse vegetation, wildlife, lakes, lagoons, mountains, forests, beaches… actually everything you can imagine in nature. As this route runs along the coast, it passes numerous marine reserves. It is therefore the perfect destination for plenty of activities such as whale watching, snorkeling, hiking… . As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to go on trip along this beautiful and diverse route in South Africa. We drove along the Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth but of course this route can also be done in the other direction.
How many days do you need for the Garden Route
It took us around 4 days to complete the Garden route, from Betty’s Bay to Tsitsikamma National Park. We felt this was just a little too short, so we had to do everything quite quickly. We therefore recommend that you allow at least 5 days for the Garden Route. If you would like to add the extra highlights close to the Garden route, we recommend at least a week to really enjoy all the beauty and the actvities that the Garden route has to offer. This way you can really take your time to enjoy the beautiful landscapes you drive through.
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Betty's Bay
34° 21′ S, 18° 55′ E
Everyone knows that you can meet the African penguins at the famous boulder beach. But did you know that there is another penguin colony at Stony Point in Betty’s Bay? This place does not have the same beautiful beach as Boulder’s beach and there is less chance of having your picture taken with a penguin here, but that is why it is a lot less busy here! You walk along a boardwalk from where you can see the penguins’ breeding grounds. If you’re lucky, there are also a few walking around on the water, in front of the entrance to Stony Point, with which you can still take a photo or a little walk.
As we mentioned before, Betty’s Bay is not part of the official Garden Route. But you pass this place on your way from Cape Town to the official Garden Route and we believe penguins are always worth a stop on your route.
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Hermanus
34° 25′ S, 19° 14′ E
Hermanus is a must visit place if you are in South Africa during whale season (June to November). This village is known as the one and only ‘whale capital’ . It is the only place in the world where whales swim so close to land that you can see them from shore. There are different hiking trails along the cliffs from where you can spot the whales.
If you want to see them from even closer, you can also go on a whale safari. If you have always wanted to see whales, Hermanus is your place to see these beautiful giants up close.
Note: whale season runs from June to November
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Swellendam
34° 01' S, 20° 26' E
Swellendam is the perfect stopover to break the trip between Hermanus and the first stop of the ‘official’ Garden Route: Knysna . It is the third-oldest town in South Africa, with a rich historical and architectural heritage, surrounded by natural beauty. The town is known for its charming Cape Dutch architecture, with many well-preserved buildings. You can find a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops where you can try local cuisine and find some unique handmade products.
The highlight in Swellendam was for us our stay at Kwetu Guest Farm. Not only can you see giraffes from your room, you can also meet them up close!
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Knysna
34° 02' S, 23° 02' E
Knysna is a picturesque town with a beautiful lagoon, surrounded by lush forests and mountains. The town itself is not big, but there are plenty of things to see and do. One of the most iconic landmarks of the region is the ‘Knysna Heads’. These towering sandstone cliffs mark the entrance to the lagoon, where the waters of the Indian Ocean meet the calm lagoon. You can choose between multiple viewpoints from where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset, or you can go for a cruise in the Knysna Lagoon.
For us, the highlight of Knysna was staying at Knysna Elephant Park, where you can sleep next to the bedroom of the elephants. It’s a very unique experience to see how they sleep and hear them snoring, trumpeting and yes … even farting at night.
Besides sleeping with the elephants, they also offer different experiences to interact with the elephants (all ethical), which you can also book without staying overnight.
Plettenberg Bay
34° 03′ S, 23° 22′ E
Next on the Garden Route, not far from Knysna, you find Plettenberg Bay. It is a place that you should not miss. Here, we had one of our most unforgettable experiences ever: Snorkeling with seals. The seals are super playful and curious. As soon as you arrive by boat to the playful pod of seals, you can see their enthusiasm rising. Jump into the water with your snorkel and experience how playful these animals are. It’s an activity that you should definitely do during your trip through South Africa. It was one of the most fun and unique things we did in South Africa and we highly recommend it if you are not afraid of the sea and the enthusiasm of the seals.
If you think snorkeling with the seals is not for you, there are plenty of other great alternatives for you to do in this lovely town. You can go for a hike in the beautiful Robberg Nature Reserve and watch the seals from shore or you can enjoy the beautiful views from the beach in this lovely town.
Whatever you want to do in Plettenberg Bay, it is definitely a place where you should stop along the Garden Route.
Note: It can all be a bit much at first, but once you get used to the seals enthusiasm, it is a fantastic experience. The waterproof suit ensures that you float in the sea. However, this activity is not recommended for people who are not good swimmers or don’t feel confident in the water.
Bloukrans Bridge
33° 58′ S, 23° 38′ E
Another stop, another unique activity. The Bloukrans Bridge is an iconic landmark along the Garden Route. If bungee jumping has always been on your bucket list, the Bloukrans bridge is the place to finally do it. With its 216 m, this bridge is known as the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. It is located in a beautiful environment, making it the perfect place for an unforgettable bungee jump experience. It is definitely something you must have done once in your life (at least, if you’re not afraid of heights).
Even if you are not into bungee jumping, it is definitely worth stopping at the this bridge to enjoy the beautiful view, the impressive bridge and watch other people jumping (and screaming).
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Tsitsikamma National Park
34° 01' S, 23° 53' E
Tsitsikamma National Park is a must-visit destination if you love nature and hiking. It is probably the most famous nature park along the Garden route. This national park is full of dramatic landscapes, beautiful hiking trails, stunning views, endless beaches and of course the famous suspension bridges.
A must do trail is the Mouth Trail. This route takes you to the Storms River Mouth, where the river meets the Indian Ocean. It is also the trail that takes you along the famous suspension bridges and walkways. Along the way, you get some incredible views of the river, the gorge and the crashing waves on the cliffs.
Instead of going on a hike, you can also explore the Storms River during a kayak tour among the impressive rock landscapes. This way you have the chance to get deeper into the gorge and get to experience the beauty of the river up close.
Other highlights close to the Garden Route
Stellenbosch
On your way from Cape Town to Betty’s bay (or the other way around), you can make a stop in the lovely Stellenbosch. This town is known for its scenic beauty, rich history, and world-class vineyards. It is the wine capital of South Africa and it ranks among the best wine regions in the world. So if you like wine, Stellenbosch is definitely the place to be.
But Stellenbosch is not only worth a visit for the wine. It is also South Africa’s second oldest town with many old and beautiful streets. A street you should not miss here is the old Dorpstraat. This street is home to some of the most impressive old buildings, where you can find some lovely shops, hotels and restaurants.
Addo Elephant Park
A little further than Port Elizabeth, the end of the extensive version of the Garden route, you find Addo Elephant Park. It is the third largest national Park in South Africa. This park is home to 600 elephants and many other animals. If you are lucky, you can even see the Big Five! If you have already made it all the way to Port Elizabeth, you might as well drive a little further and add this beautiful park to your trip.
You can explore this park both on a self drive, or on a game drive. But we recommend doing a self drive in this park. The main road has a distance of 64km, so you can actually do it in one day.
Port Elizabeth - Stargazing Dome
If you are looking for a very unique stay close to the Garden route, we can highly recommend the Stargazing Dome of Once Upon a Dome in Port Elizabeth. In this large translucent stargazing dome, you can look at the stars and the Milky Way from your bed. In addition, you also have a hot tub, a chill net, an outdoor shower, a barbecue, a bath with a view… in short, everything you need for a unique overnight stay.
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